Before and After: Renovating an Early 1900 Ranch House

The first time I went inside this place, I had to hold my nose. Goats and who knows what else had been using it as their personal outhouse. A snake had recently shed its skin somewhere in there. Signs of animal inhabitants everywhere. This place had history.

The owners didn't want to tear it down, even though it was falling down on its own. They wanted to convert it into a guest house for their growing family.

Speaking of history, there were rumors from the previous owners that their ancestors had survived Indian attacks in this place. Their family were among the original settlers in that part of Texas, so I have no doubt about the stories surrounding it. If the walls could talk, the stories they'd tell.

What we kept

The only thing that was salvageable were the original rock walls. As was common in early structures in this part of the country, large stones placed on the ground served as the foundation for the rock walls. That's what we built around.

The original cabin almost certainly had dirt floors. By the time we got there, someone had poured a cement floor years after the walls went up. From one wall to the other, that floor was 4 inches out of level. But that's part of what gives it character.

What we added

Pretty much everything except the stone walls is new. We completely removed all the wood and replaced it. Rebuilt the second floor and roof structure. New metal roof. New windows and doors, HVAC and electrical throughout.

Complete new bathroom with a tile shower, free-standing tub, and two sinks. The main room has a small kitchenette, a spiral staircase, and a wood stove. It serves as a bedroom and sitting area both.

What it became

It became a beautiful addition to their property. It can now be used as a guest house for their family, and it still has the original rock walls that hold all the history of the past. That was always the point.

If you have a structure on your property that you think might be worth saving, I'm happy to come out and take a look. Sometimes the answer is no. But more often than people expect, the answer is yes.